The 53-year-old basketball legend and co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers said as much to TMZ after the celebrity website posted a video of Johnson's son, Earvin Johnson III, out in Los Angeles with his reported boyfriend.

The video depicts 20-year-old Earvin, who goes by E.J., walking along Sunset Boulevard hand-in-hand with an unidentified gentleman. E.J., a New York University student who's one of Johnson's three kids, didn't discuss his sexuality or his companion in the video, whom TMZ refers to as his boyfriend. Instead, he chatted about the Dodgers and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nevertheless, Magic Johnson told the website that he and his wife Cookie stand behind their son 100 percent.

"Cookie and I love E.J. and support him in every way," he said. "We're very proud of him."

Johnson's remark has reverberated through the sports world and beyond, particularly in light of recent events. Former NFL player Kwame Harris recently confirmed he was gay in an interview with CNN, hoping his acknowledgement would help other athletes be open about their sexuality. That's a tough battle in an era where there aren't any openly gay athletes currently playing in any of the four major male professional sports.

To that end, Johnson's unconditional support of his son is being seen as another opportunity for the legend to promote acceptance, and it turns out he's not alone in that effort. NBA star Kobe Bryant told TMZ that he not only wasn't surprised by Johnson's remarks about E.J., but that he appreciates it his openness.

"Of course Magic is supportive of and loves his son," Bryant said. "Why should anyone be surprised? What I can't tolerate is a lack of tolerance."

What is this to be proud of this is a SHAME!! A good father would sit down with his son and explain to him that he is a man and God made a woman for him to hold hands with not another man.( I know this is your life and I love you very much but I am not supporting you in this matter and if you ever need someone to talk to you I am here for you anytime of the hour. Never bring this mess around me I can control what happen at my house you do whatever you want in the street because you are the only one that has to answer for whatever you do but son this mess a man with another man is wrong )!!

Well, I think it's good that his parents have unconditional love and acceptance for him- some of you all wouldn't be posting the kind of foolishness that you post here if your parents had treated you better.

HOWEVER, he does look a mess, I mean, like what u like, love what u love, but a dude THAT big trying to dress like a dainty little woman...just doesn't work.

I realize that gay is OK. I realize that Magic is okay with his son being gay. No problemo.

Honestly clue me in, however. If a person is born gay (not disputing, just assuming) how does the whole effeminate dress and act play into it? If clothes and many traits are based upon societal constructs and norms (women wearing dresses for example) how does one go from being gay to also being a borderline crossdresser?

What two people do on their own time is their own business. I have to be honest, however, gays would be more easily accepted if many didn't act effeminate. Think of it this way; there are people into ALL kinds of weird stuff. That doesn't mean I have to be comfortable watching it.

Most gays do not have a desire to latch on to purses or wear furs or heals. Most gays act like your every day straight guy. I know because I am gay and most gay people I know, while they may have more feminine qualities than straight men, are masculine. While most gay men or more into "designer" wear, they don't desire to wear clothes typically worn by women. As a gay man, I have no desire to be with another man that acts more like a woman.

Roger the ignorant, self-righteous blog-troll has lived what he thinks is a moral life, but somehow ended up with a hateful, uncaring and callous viewpoint regarding his fellow human beings. If a man or woman chooses think and live that way, his or her kids will be worse. I wonder just how incredibly awful and troll-like Roger's offspring are?

I have no problem with him or his orientation, though I do think his "look-at-me (please!!!!)" style and approach suggests he isn't all that happy with himself. I don't envy the lives of the children of the rich and famous, no doubt they get lots of attention growing up, but not the kind they want. "He's 'Magic Johnson's son!!!! OMG" most popular-ish kid at school, but he has to fight the 'they only like me because of my Dad' demon. I feel for him. I'm sure he'd like a life of being acknowledged for who he is regardless of who he's related to.

Roger, I can hardly wait until you come down with a serious health issue, so we can all say that God is punishing you for your immoral life. But I suspect you already do have health issues - I imaging you sitting in your wheelchair, all diabetic 400 pounds of you, unloved and without a single friend. So you sit behind your typewrite and play God all day.

How do you know if magic johnson lived a immoral life, you have people who's lifestyle is not immoral but yet manage to contract hiv. You have babies born into this world with this diease. You certainly don't need to be gay to contract hiv.People say God knows all about us then why would he allow a person to be born knowing they are gay and it goes against his will, Then that would make God a liar wouldn't it? Obivously he doesn't that big of a problem with gay people there's a helluva lot of them every where you go and their here to stay lol

I agree, who cares. I consider myself a christian, it is NOT my place to judge. The self righteous so called christians fail to follow the teaching of the God I serve. Feed the hungry, clothe the poor, see that justice is served, be a peace maker, do not judge. Love they neighbor as thy self.

It is a shame so many of our elected officials who are in a position to set examples that all Americans can follow, fail to do. SO GOES THE WHITE HOUSE SO GOES THE NATION.

This should not be a political issue. A woman's right to choose SHOULD not be a political issue. What is wrong with these old archaic politicians. They were sent to Washington to serve the America not for monetary gain by only serving the wealthy. All of them should be working 24/7 in order to create jobs that pay a living wage. All Americans would prosper even the wealthy if our representatives in House and Senate would have the best interest of the 98% at heart.

We need jobs, Pres.O has presented 2 job bills, they were rejected by the House. Folks, check all of the FACTS through out the last 10 or 15 years TAX CUTS have NEVER created jobs let alone a living wage. R. Reagon tried, it DID NOT work. Don't take my word for it check for yourself.

Don't take my word for it do your own research, TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS has NEVER worked. Check History

As a proud gay black man, I applaud the courage of Earvin not to be trapped by narrow societal norms. His father was renown for prowess in bedding thousands of women, but Earvin has chosen man, instead. You go, boyfriend!

TMZ needs to stay out of everyone's business. The only thing this young man did was to be the son of someone in the limelight. He should be able to live his life without ridicule and gossip. And it's so nice to see the childish comments from all of these so called adults.

The kid speaks well, seems to have good self-esteem, and appears well adjusted and relaxed. It is not easy being the offspring of a global superstar, as we routinely view the tragic emotional trainwrecks–especially one of the biggest studs in the world constantly in the spotlight.

Sorry, didn't mean to be such an as shole with that last comment - it was late in the day and I was still somewhat hung over from a long night of dancing with my boyfriend. I don't know why I'm such a loser like this - always criticizing others for their comments on stories. I am such a mean b!tch.

I am just completely and utterly disgusted by some comments posted about this article. It sickens me to think that some people have nothing better to do than spend their time making lame and absolutely terrible comments about positive and uplifting stories, all over the Internet.
I applaud Johnson and his wife for not only supporting their gay son, but for publicly stating it as fact.

Perhaps someday in the near future, it'll be laughable or even criminal for someone to bash someone for being gay...And I also fantasize that someday it'll be trendy for gays and lesbians to refrain from calling someone a "straight"...

What's everybody so afraid of? It's Love...nothing to be scared of! And don't fool yourself for a second! People bash other minorities because they simply don't understand them and are afraid of them!

Racism and bigotry exists because people are afraid of what they do not know.
People need to get out of their little boxes and experience life.
I am the proud SIL of a gay female.
I applaud Magic and his wife for stqanding and admiring their son.